Thailand's PTT Exploration and Production Plc (PTTEP) on February 16 announced the start of natural gas production at its Block H Rotan and Buluh fields off the coast of Malaysia’s Sabah state.

PTTEP said the joint project with Malaysia’s Petronas will increase domestic energy supply and sales volume.

The project commenced production on February 6, targeting capacity of 270 million standard cubic feet per day, said PTTEP CEO Phongsthorn Thavisin.

“The achievement of first gas from Block H will increase domestic LNG [liquefied natural gas] production capacity and strengthen PTTEP’s investment portfolio in Malaysia,” he added.

The production sharing contract is operated by PTTEP Sabah Oil Ltd, which has a 56 per cent interest in the Rotan field and 42 per cent interest in the remaining area. The joint venture partners are Petronas and Indonesia’s PT Pertamina.

THE NATION (THAILAND)/ASIA NEWS NETWORK